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Mahalaxmi Temple, Mumbai, Mumbai Overview
Situated very close to Bhulabai Desai Road in Mahalaxmi West in Mumbai, the Mahalaxmi Temple is one of the ancient temples in the city that boasts of ancient architecture and culture. As the name suggests, the temple is devoted to the Hindu Goddess, Laxmi, who is considered as the goddess of wealth and prosperity in the Hindu culture. The shrine was constructed somewhere between 16th and 17th century and apart from housing a beautiful deity of Goddess Laxmi, the temple also has deities of Goddess Saraswati and Kali. Together, these three Goddesses are referred to as Mahalaxmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali. This place receives a large number of tourists all round the year and is a must-visit place if you are planning a trip to Mumbai.
The temple radiates serene and spiritual vibes and you will be mesmerized by its beautiful architecture and calm ambience that prevails around the complex. The statues of goddesses here are adorned with necklaces made from pearls, golden bangles, nose pins and other jewellery alike. Right outside the temple, you will find many small stall selling items needed for ‘puja”. You can also interact with a few shopkeepers and get to know interesting stories about the temple from them. Just like Kalighat in Kolkata, this place is considered the holiest and sacred place in Mumbai and devotees from all parts of the country visit this temple.
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History of Mahalaxmi Temple
As per the sources, the Mahalaxmi Temple was constructed between 1761 AD to 1771 AD. According to a few legends, Britishers tried to connect Worli with the Malabar Hills but due to unstable seabed, the project was left unfinished. Supposedly, the chief engineer of the project, Shri Ramji Shivji Prabu dreamt of Goddess Mahalaxmi one night. As per his narration, the goddesses asked him to look for three idols at the bottom of the sea and install them in the shrine dedicated to her.
Following the goddesses’ instruction, Shri Ramji constructed a sea link, Breach Candy, connecting the Worli and Malabar Hills. After this, he went about searching for the idols of the goddesses at the Worli creek. Fortunately, he was able to spot these idols and as per the instructions, he built Mahalaxmi Temple on top of the hillock that was granted to him by Lord Horneby. The three idols installed in the temple today are the same idols that were found by Shri Ramji.
Architecture of Mahalaxmi Temple
Depicting the traditional style of Indian architecture, the Mahalaxmi Temple boasts of exquisite structures and designs. The main entrance of the temple is embellished with beautiful intricate carvings and it connects to the central area of the complex.
The central complex of the temple is lavishly decorated and also constitutes of 15 meters tall Kalash, which in turn, enhances the beauty of the shrine. As you delve into the inner sections of the temple, you will come across Deepmala carving on the stone and a wooden block as tall as 10.6 m, draped in silver sheets. The central worship area of the temple, also known as Sabhamandap, occupies an area of about 110 sq. meters and comprises of 27 beautifully sculpted pinnacles. There is also an image of a silver-plated lion which has faces of many Hindu deities. Positioned at the entrance of Gabhara, the main sanatorium is the wooden statutes of Jay-Vijay.
On the main gate of the sanatorium, there is a Lami Yantra which is commonly referred to as ‘Shreeyantra’. The sanatorium is spread over an area of about 121 sq. m and houses idols of Ganesha and Vithal. Inside the sanctum, you will witness the statue of Goddesses Mahalaxmi, adorned with ornaments and flowers. On the side of this idol, you will also find the statutes of Mahakali and Mahasaraswati, bejewelled with glittering ornaments. Each idol is elegantly placed on a silver plated throne.
Daily Aarti Schedule in Mahalaxmi Temple
Following is the timing for various rituals performed in the temple and you can plan your visit accordingly:
Main Aarti takes place twice in a day, the first one from 7 am to 7:20 am, and the second one in the evening from 7:30 pm to 7:50 pm.
Dhoopaarti takes place from 6:30 pm to 6:40 pm
Shejarti or aarti before the temple closes takes place at 10 pm
Tips for Visiting Mahalaxmi Temple
1. The best time to visit the temple is during the morning hours when there is less crowd.
2. Take care of your children and belongings
3. Wear a decent outfit while visiting the temple.
4. You will have to take off your footwear before entering the shrine.
How to r
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each Mahalaxmi Temple?
The shrine is very close to Mahalaxmi Railway Station and Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat. You can take an auto-rickshaw or hire a cab from any part of the city to reach the temple.
